I couldn't come up with a beginning for this column.

I've known dozens of colleagues over the past four years who would have loved to put that at the top of their stories. Everyone -- no matter how fine a writer -- goes through that "I don't know what to write" period.

Sportswriters are no exception. Despite the wide range of emotions and personalities that are always brewing in the sporting world, sometimes we haven't a clue what to say.

But I don't think that's the problem here.

This column isn't something I can't write -- it's something I don't want to write, because I know it represents the conclusion of the best four years of my life . . .

I've been aboard this crazy and wonderful ship since the summer of 1989, when the Collegian was still housed in Carnegie Building. My first editor was Chino Wilson and I can say that I'm glad to have known him. He taught me a lot of things I should know, not all of which involved journalism.

Two other editors my freshman year -- Lori Shontz and Mark Wogenrich -- are the ones who really taught me to be a sportswriter. Lori was the perfect editor, she honestly made our stories better and turned us into better writers in the process. And she never missed a grammar error.

Mark was the creative one. He could turn an ordinary story into a gem with a single phone call. Give him five minutes on the phone with Blair Thomas, and the result would always be great, picturesque prose. I aspired to be that kind of writer.

So, even though neither of you will ever read this, thanks Mark and Lori.

In these four years, the Collegian -- since moved to South Burrowes Street -- has become my true college home. I've worked, eaten and, more than once, slept here. Putting in 50 hours a week here has been the rule, not the exception.

This year, I've tried to give back to the Collegian some of what it's given to me. I would be thrilled if I even came close to having the effect on some young writer that those editors had on me three years ago.

It would only be right, because that's what this place is about --passing the Collegian journalism tradition on to each generation.

And it's almost time now for that next generation to take charge. I'm supremely confident they'll do a fine job -- it's a talented group that'll be here next fall.

But, as I said, I didn't want to start this column, because I knew that it would have to end . . .

Goodbyes aren't easy, but I'm comforted by the fact the friends I've made here and the experiences I've had will always be with.

So farewell, and y'all be careful out there.